Sustainability news

Sustainability programs and research at U of T Engineering are at the forefront of alternative technologies that can mitigate the impact of climate change.

Professor Lesley Warren performs environmental sampling at Syncrude Canada’s Base Mine Lake, an important location for mining-impact water research and technology development in Alberta’s Oil Sands. (Photo courtesy Lesley Warren)

Methane-converting viruses could play a role in combating climate change

September 24, 2020

Genomic study reveals the complex interactions between bacteria and viruses in industrial wastewater

A3MD researchers will combine high-throughput experimentation and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of new energy conversion materials and consumer electronics. Ziliang Li (ECE PhD candidate, pictured) holds a next generation light-emitting material in the Sargent Lab at the University of Toronto. (Photo courtesy of Ziliang Li)

New academia-industry partnership to accelerate the search for materials for sustainable energy and smartphones

September 11, 2020

A new consortium of world-leading researchers and industry partners looks to use artificial intelligence to flip the materials discovery process on its head

Professor Aimy Bazylak is this year’s winner of the McLean Award from the Connaught Fund and the McLean endowment. (Photo: Roberta Baker)

McLean Award recipient Aimy Bazylak is creating new technologies for sustainable energy

August 21, 2020

Funding will enhance a research program in fuel cells and electrolyzers, which can provide low-emission electricity infrastructure

Professor Marianne Hatzopoulou (CivMin) and her team have modelled the potential human health impacts of a large-scale shift to electric vehicles across the GTHA. (Photo: Roberta Baker)

Modelling the health benefits of electric cars

June 3, 2020

A new study from Professor Marianne Hatzopoulou (CivMin) suggests that each electric car in Toronto could provide nearly $10,000 worth of social benefits by improving air quality.

Researchers from U of T Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University are using electrolyzers like this one to convert waste CO2 into commercially valuable chemicals. Their latest catalyst, designed in part through the use of AI, is the most efficient in its class. (Photo: Daria Perevezentsev)

Artificial intelligence helps researchers up-cycle waste carbon

May 13, 2020

A collaboration between U of T Engineering and Carnegie Mellon University has produced a record-setting catalyst for CO2-to-ethylene conversion

Members of CERT Systems, Inc. with their pilot unit at Zeton Engineering in Burlington, ON. This week, the team was awarded funding from Natural Resources Canada’s Breakthrough Energy Systems Canada competition to advance their carbon-recycling technology. (Photo courtesy CERT Systems Inc.)

U of T Engineering spinoff receives support from Breakthrough Energy Solutions Canada to upgrade waste carbon

February 12, 2020

Funding will support commercialization of a new technology to transform CO2 into commercially valuable products

Left to right: Adnan Ozden (MIE PhD candidate), Joshua Wicks (ECE PhD candidate), and F. Pelayo García de Arquer (ECE postdoctoral fellow) are among the team members who have designed an electrolyzer that converts CO2 to valuable products 10 times faster than previous versions. (Photo: Daria Perevezentsev)

“Reverse fuel cell” converts waste carbon to valuable products at record rates

February 6, 2020

U of T Engineering researchers develop enhanced device to transform CO2 into valuable chemicals 10 times faster than previous versions

Fengwang Li demonstrates the copper-based catalyst that he and his collaborators have designed. Placed within an electrolyzer, the catalyst is capable of efficiently transforming waste CO2 directly into ethylene, a valuable commodity chemical. (Photo: Tyler Irving)

U of T Engineering and Caltech collaborate on pathway to carbon-neutral plastics

November 20, 2019

Improved catalyst transforms renewable electricity and waste CO2 into ethylene, one of the world’s most widely-used commodity chemicals

Professors Tracey Galloway and Chris Beck in one of the planes used to transport food, supplies and passengers to remote Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario. (Photo courtesy of Chris Beck)

Reconciliation through Engineering Initiative to improve transportation and housing in Indigenous communities

November 14, 2019

Indigenous leaders, U of T researchers begin collaborations to mitigate indoor mould and improve air transportation of food and goods in Northern Ontario

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